Friday, October 23, 2009

Clay Aiken & The Champions

Clay Aiken sure knows how to put on a great gala!! I was fortunate to attend the National Inclusion Project's 2009 Champions Gala on October 17, 2009.


















The National Inclusion Project was co-founded by Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel in 2003. Most impressive to me was how much the foundation has grown in the past six years. Amazing, when you consider that what started out as a project for College credit has grown into a leader in its field.

It's just too much to type out, so here are some of the highlights from Diane Bubel's speech:

  • Charity Navigator recently awarded the National Inclusion Project its highest rating, making it the Project the highest rated non-profit in their field
  • The Project has received accolades and developed partnerships with the likes of State Farm, Mitsubishi Electric, the University of Minnesota, Johns Hopkins University, the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability, the Million Dollar Round Table and the FPG Child Development Institute
  • Camp Shriver was started by the University of Massachusetts and named after Eunice Shriver, a pioneer in disability advocacy, and one of the most respected organizations in their field. The director of Camp Shriver has called the Let's All Play curriculum "genius" and has led the charge to have Camp Shriver revamp their program. They now operate under the Project's Let's All Play Model

In all honesty, there are too many high points to even begin to put them all into words - so I tried to consolidate them into a video. Hope you enjoy.




16 comments:

Dianne Barbee said...

SueReu,

Excellent overview recapping the high points of the National Inclusion Project's 2009 Gala! I would love to have been there with you, but you have brought the highlights home for many supporters who were not in Raleigh.

Your montage of Clay Aiken is very special -- beautiful message, man, voice, and heart! Well done! **clap, clap**

Thank you for your kind remarks in the Carolina blog.

Caro

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful, thank you!

LovesClaysVoice said...

I loved your montage Sue! Clay is a very special man and I'm very proud to be his fan.

musicfan said...

Thank you for your thoughts on the Gala. It was a wonderful event. There was so much good news at the Gala and so much to look forward to. Now, we need to help them get the funds to reach their goals!

Ashes said...

Great recap of the Gala! I'm still in awe of the clack and hoping to see Clay Aiken live myself next year :)

Your video recap is awesome, you know I love it, and it's the highlight of my new blog. Thank You!!

MAE said...

Gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes! Beautiful recap, so moving! Made me feel as if I were there. Absolutely loved it!!
Thank you, Sue, for bringing this to us! MAE

clayam said...

What a beautiful montage and what a great night that must have been for Clay Aiken, National Inclusion Project, and the fans who were there.

CLAYCOLOMBIA said...

Hi! Thanks for a beautiful montage and recaps.

Rossy

copingincalifornia said...

Love that photo of clay with the award. Thanks for the recap for the Gala.

stargazer said...

Wonderful recap for the National Inclusion Gala hosted by Clay Aiken. What a guy.

cathie - fb ClayNation group - a.k.a. scootieboots said...

(((sue))) absotively, posolutely loved your new montage, sue! one of your best. it brought tears to my eyes! your new software is amazing! everywhere i go on the internet people are commenting how much they are enjoying it and what a wonderful job you did! =-}

SueReu said...

Thanks everyone!!!!

Beanblossom said...

Thanks for the great Gala recap. It makes not being there almost tolerable. I certainly won't miss next year. Clay Aiken puts on a wonderful show, for a cause that is near and dear to his heart.

ImGranny said...

Thanks for the great blog and montage. Clay Aiken did a wonderful job on the Gala.

stargazer said...

Go Clay Aiken!

PaulaBear said...

Thanks for hitting on all the high points of Clay Aiken, the gala and the National Inclusion Project!